Transcendentalism is a philosophy that goes against conformity and challenges one’s own thought process rather than strict scientific thought. In the movie Dead Poets Society, boys in an all-boys preparatory school are inspired by their teacher, Mr. Keating, to think independently rather as to study what is given to them. These boys become interested in the art of poetry and reassemble the “Dead Poets Society”; a society dedicated to the transcendentalist ideals of literary geniuses such as Walt Whitman and David Henry Thoreau. These ideals and literary pieces cause some of the boys like Neal Perry, Charlie Dalton, and Knox Overstreet to become transcendentalists and exercise non-conformity in their lives.
Knox Overstreet’s journey to becoming a transcendentalist starts when he meets a girl named Chris. He begins as a student who is not outgoing, just average like all the rest. Through the teachings of Mr. Keating, Knox gains an understanding of Keating’s favorite phrase “carpe diem” meaning seize the day. After meeting Chris for the first time, he falls in love with her and works up the courage to call her. He shows …show more content…
He constantly defies the institution’s standards and rules. Dalton publishes an article in the school newspaper under the name of “Dead Poets Society” advocating for the admission of females into the school. When the dean of the school, Mr. Nolan, calls for the culprit of the misdemeanor at an assembly, Dalton pretends to pick up an imaginary phone call from God saying, “Mr. Nolan, it's for you. It's God. He says we should have girls at Welton.” While being beaten and questioned about the Dead Poets Society by Mr. Nolan, he still shows his transcendental nature of defiance and non- conformity by telling Mr. Nolan about the member named Nuwanda (actually his epithet). In doing so, Charlie Dalton shows his outstanding personality and his desire to firmly uphold his beliefs in the
Knox Overstreet’s journey to becoming a transcendentalist starts when he meets a girl named Chris. He begins as a student who is not outgoing, just average like all the rest. Through the teachings of Mr. Keating, Knox gains an understanding of Keating’s favorite phrase “carpe diem” meaning seize the day. After meeting Chris for the first time, he falls in love with her and works up the courage to call her. He shows …show more content…
He constantly defies the institution’s standards and rules. Dalton publishes an article in the school newspaper under the name of “Dead Poets Society” advocating for the admission of females into the school. When the dean of the school, Mr. Nolan, calls for the culprit of the misdemeanor at an assembly, Dalton pretends to pick up an imaginary phone call from God saying, “Mr. Nolan, it's for you. It's God. He says we should have girls at Welton.” While being beaten and questioned about the Dead Poets Society by Mr. Nolan, he still shows his transcendental nature of defiance and non- conformity by telling Mr. Nolan about the member named Nuwanda (actually his epithet). In doing so, Charlie Dalton shows his outstanding personality and his desire to firmly uphold his beliefs in the